Seminar on Malik Ahmad Baba today

PESHAWAR: An international seminar is being held to remember Malik Ahmad Baba, the chief of the Yousafzai tribe and founder of Pakhtunkhwa, on the occasion of his 545th birth anniversary on May 10.
Noted writers and intellectuals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Balochistan, Karachi, tribal areas, Afghanistan and Gulf states will present their papers and shed light on the life and struggle of the famous Pakhtun leader and chief of Yousafzai tribe who established the first independent state of Pakhtuns in 1515 AD.
The first session of the event will start from Quran Khwani at his tomb in Aladhand area of Malakand district at 8am, to be followed by inauguration of the tomb constructed by the government and laying of floral wreath on his grave.
A committee comprising noted writers and intellectuals including Prof Dr Abdul Hameed, Prof Dr Sher Muhammad, Engr Ijaz Yousafzai and Prof Abaseen Yousafzay has organised the anniversary celebration programme. An international seminar is part of the event to be held at Chakdarra, Lower Dir where speakers would pay tribute to Ahmad Khan Baba and throw light on his life and achievements.
Born in 1470, Malik Ahmad was the son of Malik Sultan Shah. His father died when he was a child. His uncle Malik Suleman, who was also a chieftain of Yousafzai tribe, brought up and groomed the talented boy and declared him his successor instead of his own sons. He wanted Malik Ahmad as the ruler of Kabul.
However, luck did not favour Malik Ahmad as the then ruler of Kabul Mirza Ulagh Beg hatched a conspiracy against the Yousafzai tribe in 1490. He invited about 700 Yousafzai elders under the leadership of Malik Suleman for a reception at his royal court. He ordered the killing of all the elders except Malik Suleman. However, Malik Suleman offered himself for death and sought pardon for his young nephew Malik Ahmad. Following this massacre at the hands of the Kabul ruler, Malik Ahmad left Kabul along with other Yousafzai tribespeople travelling via the Khyber Pass and arriving at Duaba in Hashtnagar.
He organised his force and fought against different tribes. The brave Malik Ahmad succeeded in establishing an independent Pakhtun state consisting of Hashtnagar, Mardan, Swabi, Malakand, Swat, Dir and Bajaur, with Thana as its capital.
The credit of land and water distribution among different tribes in the Pakhtun belt also goes to Malik Ahmad, on whose advice his minister Sheikh Adam Malli aka Sheikh Malli conducted the land distribution and introduced the first-ever water distribution system that is still intact despite lapse of 500 years.
Malik Ahmad Baba ruled the Pakhtunkhwa state for 20 years till his death in 1535. He was laid to rest at Gulingaso Garhi (Daffodils’ village), Aladhand in Malakand district.
Yousafzai is a major Pakhtun tribe inhabiting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts of Mardan, Swabi, Malakand, Swat, Lower Dir, Upper Dir and Bajaur tribal agency, besides other parts of the country and Afghanistan.